Restoration and revival
’My boat project helped me recover from a severe traffic accident’
It all started when I was looking for a solid boat while working in the Southampton area as a marine engineer. I wanted a boat I could eat, sleep and go to the loo on – a small craft under 25ft.
Soon I spotted a 50-year-old Westerly Cirrus and fell in love! She was afloat at a yard in Swanwick, where I viewed her twice. Each time I got the ‘small ship’ feel and the 60s prowess. I made a low offer (she was mast down and in a green state) which was accepted and my Westerly story began!
Spirit of Corofin as she was then called, was very run down and green with mould. I fitted an engine bracket to move her with my 4hp 2-stroke Mariner outboard. I left the mooring at high water and soon enough she was coursing down the Hamble, mast flat on deck, and a tired skipper at the helm, collecting my thoughts ready for the big haul-out the next day.
Unfortunately, a couple of weeks after, I was knocked down by a drink-driver as I walked outside my parent’s house. I spent three months in hospital, then another three months in a specialist rehab unit, having suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. When I was finally discharged my life had changed, and I lived on the Isle of Wight near my parents.
As a birthday surprise, my mum had my beloved Cirrus trailed from Universal Marina on the Hamble to a local yard in Cowes, and I began the second stage of my recovery/ therapy on my lovely 22ft boat.
I spent weeks sanding and painting the hull, cleaning the lockers, danbolining every nook and cranny. Mum cleaned the fenders, dad ordered the new lettering and I renamed her
Spitfire with large amounts of rum flung north, east, south and west! I prepped and painted her from top to bottom: at least seven coats of varnish on everything, just as grandad would have liked.
I checked valves and replaced the toilet. Non-slip deck paint was applied, new curtains were fitted but the crowning glory was the new custom hand-made hatch made by Bob, a former boatbuilder from Lallows, Cowes. It was amazing and attracts many complimentary comments. Bob also replaced the cockpit seats; I applied the varnish.
I found 500kg of metal ingots for ballast and distributed them evenly, fore and aft. Even though the waterline is slightly lower, it makes my yacht more stable and a good solid performer for me, as a brain-injured skipper.
After replacing the mariner 4hp for a Tohatsu Pro, I had a lot more propulsion and 12V charging for my VHF and nav lights. I also upgraded to a 25lt fuel tank and replaced the battery and water tanks.
Spitfire was launched in April 2017, and taken to her new mooring up the River Medina. Since then I potter up to her regularly, and have sailed her out many times single-handed.
One highlight was joining the Westerly Owners Association and then meeting up at Newtown Creek on a fine summer’s evening – sunsets, barbecues and enthusiastic yachtsmen and women; it’s what I call ‘sailing therapy on yacht Spitfire’. Spitfire has now been sold. She needed someone new to love her – I was so happy for someone to buy her and keep renovating her. She is a special piece of Westerly history and a very special piece of my rehabilitation. Toby Matthews, Cowes IOW First published in the Westerly Owners’ Association magazine